A method and apparatus assigns a quantative variable to each object (or set of objects) in a collection available to a user. The quantative variable is referred to as the Interest Priority Value (IPV). The IPV defines a range of states of the object, between `accessed` and `unaccessed`, and is calculated based on one or more attributes of the object. A object with the highest IPV is the most `unaccessed,` and the object with the lowest IPV is the least `unaccessed.` The IPV may be used in a visual representation of the collection of objects, thereby permitting a user to readily identify and obtain those objects of greatest interest to the particular user.